The Yamaha YAS-23 is a standard alto saxophone. It's a beginner - intermediate level saxophone, although it's definitely a high quality one. The YAS-23 has a very study build and feels very secure in your hands. It's body is made out of lacquer, while the keys are nickel plated. I'm definitely not a saxophone expert by any stretch of the imagination, as I'm just starting to pick up the saxophone a bit. I inherited the YAS-23 from my grandfather who recently passed away and I'm just starting to get into it a bit. For a beginner, I'm finding it pretty easy to adjust to the YAS-23, as it feels good to play and isn't very difficult to get a handle on. I used to play the clarinet, so this is a pretty easy transition as far as getting a sound out of the instrument go. I can't speak to how the sound of the YAS-23 would be if a professional were playing it (which would undoubtedly be a lot better than me playing it), but while I'm playing it I'm getting a pretty full sound out of it. I've yet to do any recording with the YAS-23, but I'm pretty confident that the sound will translate well, and hopefully after a couple of years of playing I'll be able to get some stuff to tape. I've read that the YAS-23 is a great student instrument, which I'm sure it is, but it seems to me like it's a great overall instrument for more than just a beginner. The price is very reasonable for a saxophone like this, as Yamaha is able to afford making high quality instruments at these kind of prices since they are the largest musical instrument manufacturer in the world. If you're looking to get into playing the alto saxophone, the Yamaha YAS-23 is just about the perfect instrument to get started with...